FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kirk Cousins admitted he threw a bad pass to Drake London early in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles Monday night.
Right after, Cousins went over to London and commended the receiver for still making the difficult catch. London's response was simple: "Kirk, we're just building this, that's going to happen. ... We're just getting started."
That's the outlook the Falcons have had after they fell flat offensively against the Pittsburgh Steelers and after a last-second win over the Eagles on prime time.
"We're getting better," Cousins said. "Week 2 to 3, we'll get better and we'll just keep building it, and I think that's the right perspective to have."
From Week 1 to Week 2 the Falcons' offense improved in multiple statistical categories including overall yardage (226 to 385), passing yards (137 to 233) and rushing yards (89 to 152). First downs were up, too, from 15 to 22. The unit also didn't commit a single turnover after losing the football three times in the home opener.
Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said the operation felt a lot cleaner as a whole, and the rushing attack felt much more comfortable compared to their first outing.
Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 150 rushing yards Monday. Robinson finished the game with 97, a large chunk (72 yards) coming in the first half.
Robinson said in Week 1 playing live football together for the first time felt like "bullets firing all over the place," and now it's a matter of getting used to that and building a familiarity and camaraderie together.
"I think that it's something that is inherent to the more you're together, you're going to improve, you're going to get better and I felt like that happened," Cousins said. "We learned a lot about ourselves in Week 1 and we were able to take that and apply it to Week 2. But we'll be doing the same from Week 2 to Week 3, and Week 3 to Week 4. I think as this year goes, we're going to just keep building a rapport."
On Sunday Night Football, Atlanta will face a team that knows a thing or two about rapport. The Kansas City Chiefs have been building chemistry through four Super Bowl runs, winning the last two, while the Falcons have a singular prime-time win under their belt.
"They know that the level of play in Week 1 wasn't up to standard, and it started with me, and it was all of us collectively," Robinson said. "But the confidence that you get from a game like (Monday's game) doesn't go understated."
Standard. That's been the word of the week from the offense. It's a baseline to build on because they know they can do better. Even in the aftermath of Monday's win, they knew there was more work to be done.
In fact, on the plane ride home from Philadelphia in the early morning hours of Monday night into Tuesday morning, Robinson sent Cousins a congratulatory message, complimenting the quarterback on a job well done.
Cousins' response? He blew right past the compliment.
"We were texting, like, 'Man, great job. What an unbelievable job tonight, getting it done'. Of course, his response was, 'Yeah, I've got do a lot better. I've got to be more accurate. I've got to do this, this, and this,'" Robinson said. "He's holds himself to a high standard."
Standard. There's that word again. What's interesting about the word, though, is that it's just the baseline.
The way the Falcons played in Philadelphia was the standard, but it also wasn't the ceiling. The Falcons offense is just getting started, after all.
"When we're all on the right track, the right page and doing things the right way, then that's the production we put out. I think that was just the beginning of the standard," Bijan Robinson said. "I think we can do so much more, so much better. That's just because I have high expectations for the offense, for this team. What we did on Monday was awesome, but I think we have so much more to take, and we can do something that's incredibly special."
Take a look at highlights from Thursday practice in Flowery Branch ahead of the week three matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ta'Quon Graham #95 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron #65 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #12 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Matthew Judon #15 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter #0 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons #31 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes #21 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Kyle Hinton #68 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Smith-Williams #50 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes #21 and Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons #31 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 and Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant #27 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier #25 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #17 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Smith-Williams #50 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison #96, Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ta'Quon Graham #95, and Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Matthew Judon #15 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Clark Phillips III #22 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron #65 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant #27 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Smith-Williams #50 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Troy Andersen #44 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
